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Yomitan Potatoes to Mainland markets

Date Posted: 2001-06-01

A steam heat processing facility that makes it possible to ship out sweet potatoes has recently been completed in Yomitan Village. On Thursday, the facility processed 350 kilograms of sweet potatoes for shipping out to the mainland for the first time.

Okinawan sweet potatoes have a trademark purple color inside and are mainly produced in Yomitan Village. Despite its originality as an Okinawan produce that could well become popular in mainland, it was prohibited to ship them out because of fears that they would spread contamination of disease and harmful insects within the county.

Even though there have been small amounts of potatoes processed at the airport that are sold for tourists as souvenirs, this marks the first time that Okinawan sweet potatoes are commercially shipped out to the mainland.